Maelstrom

Chapter 26

Ruse's POV

"So that's about the just of it guys, and I'm still waiting on that fifty beli y'know." You grumble, not wanting to have to repeat yourself for the fifth time, as the rest of the crew sits, jaws-slack, not sure how to react.

"You sure do know how to get yourself in trouble doncha Argenti?" Beckman sighs, pulling at his hair while shooting his captain a dirty look.

"And you! You should've known better than to let the lass run off on her own, ya idiot." He continues, pointing a finger at said idiot in question.

You resist the urge to snicker at the appointed nickname you had dubbed Shanks with but quickly sober as Beckman starts lecturing you again.

After a couple hours of listening to his rambling and disappointed looks you stretch, covering a yawn from escaping, nodding dutifully as Beckman finally finishes.

"Jeez, remind me to never get on his bad side, scary. Like a mother, all those disapproving looks and 'you should act more mature, you're 18 for god's sake!" You mimic as Shanks snickers, the two of you sharing a bonding moment over Benn's motherly scolding.

"Ugh. C'mon Red! Let's gooooo...I'm boreeeed. I wanna see what this devil fruit thing is, maybe it'll be something cool!" You whine, tugging on the redhead next to you.

"Oi kid, I know, I know. But first, let's get the 'ol book out, I don't know about you, but I don't want to have you trying your luck at something without proper guidance. Remember what Benn said?" He teases as you pout childishly.

You suppose he was right, it may be better to try and see if you could recognize the damn thing sitting in your stomach before just shooting off on your own.

"Ahh, fine Red. Let's go grab the damned thing then and get a move on it." You grumble, before your dread of having to sit down and read was replaced by eager curiosity.

"Hey Red, you said you had this book for awhile right? Was there any reason why?" You question, turning to look at the redhead as you continue to walk down the halls, peering at him questioningly.

"Aye, I've been collecting 'em, if you hadn't eaten the cursed thing we coulda sold it, they go for a lot on the market, probably more than your pretty little head." He chuckles as he looks at you, your face scrunched up with annoyance.

Well, there goes that idea. Guess you'll have to think ahead next time, but that was highly unlikely. After all, if you weren't blindly making choices and forging ahead, then you weren't yourself.

"Tch, whatever ya damn pirate, let's just see what this thing is." You grin, shooting him a playful look.

"And I'll have you know that my pretty little head already has a bounty on it, so eat that." Shanks looks back at you, puzzled.

"You already got yourself a bounty kid? For what?" You waggle your eyebrows playfully.

"Ahh, you know what? Nevermind, kid. Here, point out the one that you ate today." The redhead plops a book on your lap, and you lean down to skim the pages.

Tori Tori no Mi, Ito Ito no Mi, Mera Mera no Mi, Ushi Ushi no Mi, Hito Hito no Mi, Baku Baku no Mi.

You sigh as you continue to look through the pages, trying to find the fruit you had consumed earlier.

Awa Awa no Mi, Peto Peto no Mi, Yami Yami no Mi, Gashi Gashi no Mi, Goru Goru no Mi, Ope Ope no Mi, Gomu Gomu no Mi, Nagi Nagi no Mi.

Maybe it wasn't in here. You growl, annoyed, deciding to flip to another page.

And there, plain as day, gleaming back at you, sitting at the very bottom of the worn paper was the fruit you had eaten.

The Okami Okami no Mi, its silvery flesh glimmered on the picture crudely drawn, the shape and size of the cursed thing so similar it almost scared you. Neatly written in a small font was a passage, describing the devil fruit underneath the crude sketch.

Okami Okami no Mi, also known as the "Wolf Wolf Fruit"

To the wielder, this fruit is something powerful, but be cautious, this fruit has gone unconsumed, hidden for a reason. If you have found this fruit, leave it be, the price is not worth the cost. Those who try, beware.

You turn the next page, expecting for a summary, something, but there's nothing else written. Just a short description of the fruit, a warning and a poorly drawn sketch. How annoying.

"The Okami Okami no Mi, huh? That's a lame name, what am I gonna sprout a fluffy tail and fur or something? That's pathetic. There's nothing even written here Shanks, except a lame warning. Like I'd even want this damn thing anyways. Tch." You growl, shoving the book back to your redhead companion who looks at you, brows furrowed in deep thought.

"Those who try, beware? Ah kid, only you would be able to get a hold of something that even the universe says is troublesome." Shanks chuckles, thumbing through the book like you had earlier and you shoot him a glare.

Bastard thought this was funny huh?

You stand abruptly, levelling the redhead with a stare, before you open the door from the quarters you were just in prior. Shanks looks up, surprise evident on his face, his eyes following you curiously.

"Fine Red, I'm gonna go and figure out this Okami Okami bastard of a fruit then, myself. And if I do somehow grow fur and a tail, you can bet your pretty ass that I'll come after you." You snicker internally, not giving him a chance to reply.

If that red haired idiot wanted to tease you, then you'd prove to him just how wrong he was.

Flipping him a non-so-discreet finger you continue to make your way out of the Red Force, jumping off the deck with a practiced ease, landing back on the familiar sands of Foosha. Setting your jaw, you continue onwards, your feet already carrying you to your favorite training grounds.

You'd figure out how to work this damn power or you'd die trying.

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